Tool for widening and narrowing bridges of ophthalmic mountings



Patented Aug. 9, 192?,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EUGENE EDWARD BELLOF DAYTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN OITICAL COM- PANY, OF SOUTHBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, A VOLUNTARY ASSOCIATION OF MAS-.

SACHUSETTS.

TOOL FOR WIDENING AND NARROWING BRIDGES 0F OPHTHALMIC MOUNTINGS.

Application filed May 20,

The present invention relates to improvements in tools for widening or narrowing the bridge portion of ophthaln' ic mountings.

The prinlary object of the invention is to provide a pair of pliers having suitable jaws with which a celluloid covered bridge of an ophthalmic mounting may be widened or narrowed without injuring the covering.

Another object is to provide a tool of the character stated with means whereby the amount of the widening or narrowing of the bridge may be gauged.

Another object is to provide simple, eflicient and durable means well adapted for the use for which it is designed.

Other objects and advantages should become apparent by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings I and it will be understood that I may make any modifications in the details of construction and methods of operations shown and described without departing from or exceeding the spirit of the invention, the preferred form of the invention only has been shown and described by way of illustration.

In the accompanying drawings- Figure 1 is a perspective view of the pliers embodying the invention.

Figure 2 is a detail side elevation of the jaws positioned for the narrowing operation.

Figure 3 is a face view of the pliers showing the jaws positioned for the widening operation.

Prior to the present invention it has been very difficult to adjust a celluloid covered bridge without marring and destroying the highly polished surface formed on the celluloid. v

It has previously been necessary to cover the jaws of an ordinary pair of pliers with chamois or the like so that the said polished surface would not be ruined. This type of tool is not only unhandy to use but also requires an exceptional amount of accuracy in its use so as to obtain a uniformly adjusted bridge.

With the present invention these difficulties are obviated by use of highly polished dies which are made to fit and contact with the celluloid covered bridge in such a manner that there is no danger of scratching or 1926. Serial No. 110,400.

marring the beautifully polished surface formed thereon, and a uniform and accurate adjustment of the bridge is obtained through the simultaneous adjustment of the end portions that are pressed outwardly an equal amount to widen the said bridge and inwardly an equal amount to narrow same.

This particular tool requires practically no skill or previous experience in adjusting this type of bridge and also saves a great amount of time, labor and cost of ruined stock.

Referring more particularly to the drawings in which like numerals are used to designate like parts throughout the several views:

The numeral 10 designates a suitable pair of pliers having a lower bifurcated jaw 11 formed thereon, upon which is mounted the arcuate die member 12 formed with a longitudinal groove 13 adapted to receive the bent metallic end portions 14 of the bridge 15 that is to be adjusted. The crest 16 of said bridge is adapted to be engaged and pressed downwardly by the polished concave face 17 of the second die member 18 mounted upon the upper jaw 19 of the pliers.

The downward movement of the crest 16 causes the bent end portions 14 of the bridge 15 to move. outwardly within the groove 13 thereby widening said bridge 15.-

The rigidity of the metallic portion of the bridge 15 tends to hold the bridge in fixed adjustment.

The amount of widening may be gauged by the indicating marks 20 formed on the outer face of the member 12.

To narrow the bridge 15 the frame or mounting is held in a vertical position and the arm or shank 21 extending from one of the bent end portions 14 is positioned within a suitable notch or recess 22 formed in the center of the die member 12. The second die member 18 is then positioned over a second arm or shank 23 extending from the opposite bent end portion 14 and the two said bent end portions and arms are then forced toward each other causing the crest 16 to bend outwardly as indicated by the dotted lines in Figure 2, thereby narrowing the bridge 15.

From the foregoing description it will be bridge therein, a second clamp head having invention I a a concave pressing face aligned with the arcuate head and adapted to engage the nose bridge, and means to force the clamp heads together to compress the nose bridge to change the distance between its ends.

2. A tool for widening and narrowing the nose bridge of an ophthalmic mounting co1nprising an arcuate clamp head having a lone gitndinal groove adapted to hold the bridge therein, anda recess adapted to engage the shanks of the bridge, a second clamphead having a concave pressing face aligned with the arcnate clamp head and adaptedto engage the bridge and means to force the clamp heads together to compress the nose bridge to change the distance between its ends.

EUGENE EDWARD BELL." 

